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Doesn't wearing a skirt give off a principally 'penetrative' connotation?

Started by Evelyn K, August 18, 2014, 07:08:33 AM

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Evelyn K

Say in the interest of safety (given our trans phobic society) maybe it should be reserved for those who can absolutely be stealth?

Like a passing privilege?

To clarify, say I look like a guy wearing a skirt. A hetero guy would see this and the clocking would follow, "He's a guy dressed salaciously because obviously he wants to be penetrated. Only women wear skirts but he's not a woman. He's trying to seduce men." (anger follows)

Conversely, say I look like a guy wearing women's pants. A hetero guy would see this and the clocking would follow, "He's a guy dressed as a woman, but he's not being salacious or looking to be penetrated. He doesn't seem to be trying to seduce men." (laugh and a shrug)

Can there be no other way to read this?

Now I'm lesbian, I have no interest in seducing men or being penetrated. So unless I know with certainty I can be stealth, I personally would stick with wearing women's pants/jeans instead.

Just throwing this out there to nibble on. Thoughts?
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mrs izzy

I am going to leave this start and see where it goes.

(((((((triggering post warning )))))))
Mrs. Izzy
Trans lifeline US 877-565-8860 CAD 877-330-6366 http://www.translifeline.org/
"Those who matter will never judge, this is my given path to walk in life and you have no right to judge"

I used to be grounded but now I can fly.
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FalseHybridPrincess

I like skirts and dresses and Im a lesbian too
Its not my fault guys cant control their sexual urges

Let them think what they want...
dress however you like
http://falsehybridprincess.tumblr.com/
Follow me and I ll do your dishes.

Also lets be friends on fb :D
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Evelyn K

It's not about men's sexual urges, it's about the possibility of being too salacious for our own safety given what we are 'communicating' to others with what we are wearing. ;D
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ErinWDK

Um...  Not all skirts are "salacious."  When I go out en femme I wear nice conservative skirts.  The shortest one I will consider being seen in is my black leather one that goes just below the knee.  The others that feel comfortable to me go down to mid-ankle.  Now if one were to wear a skirt that stopped about half way up their bippy I can see how some would take that as a sexual come on.  One does have to dress their age - or at least in a reasonable manner.


Erin
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FalseHybridPrincess

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 18, 2014, 07:18:52 AM
It's not about men's sexual urges, it's about the possibility of being too salacious for our own safety given what we are 'communicating' to others with what we are wearing. ;D

If wearing skirts etc means that Im not safe then I can only blame men and their sexual urges...
Also wearing pants doesnt really make you any safer...
http://falsehybridprincess.tumblr.com/
Follow me and I ll do your dishes.

Also lets be friends on fb :D
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Evelyn K

I think a hetero man, who reads the other person who's wearing a skirt as also being a man, is hardly thinking about his sexual urges.

He's probably thinking with more aggressive parts of his brain...
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stephaniec

sorry, I love to wear skirts and especially dresses. l don't know how much of a man In a dress I look, but I'm definitely not letting a Neanderthal determine my mental well being.     
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Beverly

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 18, 2014, 07:08:33 AM
Say in the interest of safety (given our trans phobic society) maybe it should be reserved for those who can absolutely be stealth?

No.


Quote from: Evelyn K on August 18, 2014, 07:08:33 AM
Now I'm lesbian, I have no interest in seducing men or being penetrated. So unless I know with certainty I can be stealth, I personally would stick with wearing women's pants/jeans instead.

Fine. Let others dictate what you wear, that is your right. Me, I wear what makes ME feel good. If other people do not like my clothes then they can express an opinion and tell me so but that does not confer any right on them to act violently towards me.


Quote from: Evelyn K on August 18, 2014, 07:08:33 AMJust throwing this out there to nibble on. Thoughts?

Yes, but I would be moderated or yelled at.....
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Madeline182

I do feel it's an interesting position to take.  Almost to say, at what point was someone asking for it..?  When it's worded like that, I start to feel uneasy..
Fwiw, I plan on wearing skirts and dresses often and soon. Pass or not, I want to feel pretty, and those things help ^_^
I'm loving this brain food *nibbles*
-Dead or Alive <3
[Chorus]
"Isn't it a pity that I'm not the prettiest girl in the world, sometimes I feel when I kick up my heels in the sun,
I'm the loveliest one."



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LizMarie

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 18, 2014, 07:18:52 AM
It's not about men's sexual urges, it's about the possibility of being too salacious for our own safety given what we are 'communicating' to others with what we are wearing. ;D

This statement perpetuates a notion, that women (and trans women) are at fault for sexual violence committed by others solely due to how they dress. And no, I don't agree with the premise either. I don't think a skirt says "penetrate me" at all.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.



~ Cara Elizabeth
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Shantel

I'd wear a skirt if I thought I'd look half-assed good in one and wouldn't give a rip about what anyone else had going on in the dark recess of their mind. The most important thing for everyone here is to get a handle on the fact that what other's think has absolutely nothing to do with who you are and it's imperative to your own mental well being and self esteem to put those concerns out of your mind and be who you are. Five minutes from now what someone else thinks about you will have absolutely no bearing on your life. If one feels that what they are wearing is a little risqué for the time and place, then don't go there at that hour dressed inappropriately. Most of the time skirts are completely appropriate!
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RosieD

Well that was fun! What's next?
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suzifrommd

I know quite a few non-passing trans folk, and others like me that pass some of the time but are not in stealth.

We all wear whatever we please. We tend not to get any more unwanted attention than any other women do.

If you're not comfortable wearing a skirt, don't. But that doesn't mean none of us should.
Have you read my short story The Eve of Triumph?
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mac1

I would like to be able to wear a skirt or dress or other feminine clothes.
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Shantel

I suppose that wearing a 14" skirt over a thong while playing pool with a bunch of Neanderthals might give a few that idea, but then again who would do something that stupid anyway?  :D >:-)

Ok ladies peace!  :icon_peace:
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Jennygirl

A properly styled / fitted skirt that compliments your body shape is like any other piece of clothing that can help you pass.

The thing is to look out for is tight skirts... If you don't have much in the hip region they tend to slim/flatten out the waist/hip. Same goes for cis women!

Just the other day I wore a denim skirt and an empire style shirt that came down about half way over the skirt. It's probably one of the cutest outfits I own ;)
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ashrock

I think one good mid length pencil cut denim skirt is usually a healthy part of wardrobe... Mine is my favorite item in my whole wardrobe... And about the idea of skirts being salacious... they are often more conservative than most modern jeans, and certainly more than many short shorts...  Dont see this as an issue any more for me than it is for any other woman to be honest...
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Athena

Look up the protest march "slut walk".

If someone is going to attack someone else they will use any excuse to shift the blame onto the victim. A man that rapes a woman saying that they wore a short skirt still would have raped the woman if she were in blue jeans. Society in North America is constantly blaming the victims for being attacked, this has to end. What you wear isn't the reason that you have to fear attacks, it is the sick and twisted minds of people who think they have the right to do so.
Formally known as White Rabbit
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Auroramarianna

Rape is rape, not matter what the victim is wearing. Skirts don't cause rape, and a man who rapes a woman wearing a skirt would have done the same with one who wears a burka. Nothing the victim does could justify the violence inflicted on her. We'd imagine conventionally more attractive women probably get raped more, would it be their fault, because they are attractive? I can imagine now a campaign whose goal is to stop women from trying to look good, make them as unattractive as they can, so they could avoid rape. But we know it'd be absurd because it wouldn't avoid rape at all. In fact, probably rape would increase because somehow society views rape as acceptable if the victim doesn't conform to norms regarding what she can wear and how she should present and doesn't hold the attacker accountable. So we can see just how ridiculous is to put the blame on victim.

To answer your question, I don't think you should be too concerned with what others think you should wear. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy in your skin. If your goal is to attract as less attention as possible because you feel you are not quite there yet, then maybe avoid skirts. But don't let others dictate what you should wear. Not in all circunstances at least. Work is obvious and understandable. But casual, wear how you want.

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